Below is the full text of the Municipalities Reform Act 2010, which was tabled in the house on July 16th, and has been the catalyst of an ongoing dispute between Government and the Corporation of Hamilton.

The Government has many points of contention, one being voting rights, with one issue Government has objected to is that only a husband and wife can vote from each household even if other adults over 18 live there, but non-Bermudians living in Hamilton for three years or more can vote.

The Corporation operates with a full-time staff of some 130 employees and an annual budget of approximately $21 million, which is generated by taxes on businesses and homes in the City account [40%], wharfage fees on all goods passing through the Port of Hamilton [35%], and other revenue including car parks [25%].

Another one of Government’s stated points of contention is that wharfage is paid by all of Bermuda, and that Government provides services to the City at their expense including Police, Tourism promotion, bus and ferry maintenance etc. The Corporation has responded by pointing out that they Corporation pays for the fire service in the City even though nowhere else in the island does, and that the City pays a considerable amount of money towards the traffic wardens even though all of the revenue from the tickets goes to Government.

A public opinion poll conducted by the Corporation of Hamilton between June 29 and July 4, 2010 show that 7 in 10 residents (72%) are not in favour of a Government take-over of the Corporation of Hamilton.